METAIRIE, La. – New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said he thought it was “fairly silly” for outside linebacker Junior Galette to make comparisons between the Saints’ current and former defensive players on Thursday – especially the timing of it.

Galette drew the ire of some of those former players when he said the current players are “better than the guys we had. It’s not even close. Across the board.” Galette specifically mentioned former captains and Pro Bowl selections Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith and referenced safeties Roman Harper and Malcolm Jenkins.

“Listen, I read it,” Payton said. “And I’m guessing, A, it went five minutes too long, and I think that the focus should obviously be on our team. And let us when we’re 70 or 75 sit around a fire and debate who was what. But right now, this is still being in-season here, and currently we’re 5-7, and this is a big game, and we’ve been inconsistent. So obviously I think it’s not the right time or it’s fairly silly to try to make comparisons to teams of past or specifically to players of past. That’s my opinion. And look, like I said, it probably went five minutes too long.”

Galette didn’t make himself available to reporters on Friday to follow up on the comments.

Some current teammates also weighed in on Twitter by supporting the former veterans.

@Jonvilma51 and @iwillsmith are the benchmark for leadership and professionalism. Blessed to have been their teammate. #walktogetherforever

— Zach Strief (@ZachStrief) December 5, 2014

We stand on the shoulders of those that have gone before us. #Ganszism

— Thomas Morstead (@thomasmorstead) December 5, 2014